Director completes film in Kashmir amid unrest

Srinagar | A Mumbai-based director has completed the month-long shooting of his debut film in Kashmir despite the ongoing unrest, which has adversely affected life including the tourism sector.

Director G Ravi Kumar is now hoping to release the film, titled “Rose Garden”, simultaneously in Telegu, Tamil and Hindi in January next year.

The movie stars newcomers Nitin Nash and Farnaz Shetty in lead roles. Kumar said it is a love story between a Kashmiri Muslim girl and a Hindu boy who is a journalist by profession and has come to the Valley to cover the prevailing law and order situation.

“It is a love story which flourishes between two young people amidst the violence, a patriotic movie and I am glad that 80 per cent of the film is complete despite the prevailing situation,” Kumar said.

“The film is in Telugu but we are planning to release it simultaneously in two other languages – Tamil and Hindi – in January next year as a new year gift to the film buffs.” Kashmir is on the boil since July 9, a day after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces.

The unrest has claimed 85 lives and left thousands injured.

Kumar said he faced no issues during the shooting which lasted for a month.
“We shot the movie at so many locations like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Dal Lake, Botanical garden and Mughal gardens. We faced no problem.

“There is a saying that ‘fortune favours the brave’. We took a decision and moved to Kashmir despite the prevailing law and order situation and completed our project,” Kumar, who is also the music director of the picture, said.

Praising the local people, government and the security establishment for their support, he said the people are “very cooperative and their hospitality has no match. The government also ensured proper security for our team.” Shetty, who is playing Sana, said it was a dream come true for her to visit Kashmir.

“I have always wanted to visit the place and the film provided me with an opportunity to realise my dream. Kashmir is rightly called the paradise on earth. People here are very helpful and cooperative,” she said.

Echoing similar views, Nash, who plays ‘Sereno’ – a journalist who falls in love with Sana, said the beauty of this place was even beyond what he had imagined in his dreams.

“The place and its people are really great. They treated us like their own,” he said.
Kumar said he was initially afraid of coming to the Valley given the situation.

“We discussed the situation and since our project was linked to the situation, we decided to come here and try,” Kumar said, hoping the situation improves soon.